Thoroughbreds, Cypress Handicap take the spotlight this weekend

Lotta Love For Robyn heads Cypress Handicap

Wayne Barton’s outstanding young mare Lotta Love For Robyn seeks her first stakes victory when she headlines a group of 4-year-olds in the $25,000 Cypress Handicap at 350 yards on Sunday, January 20. First post for the nine-race card is at 5:15 p.m.

Trained by Joe Bassett, the First Down Dash mare looked impressive when winning an allowance race in her Los Alamitos debut on December 8. Lotta Love For Robyn is no stranger to stakes races, as she’s run in the 2011 All American Futurity and 2012 All American Derby. She’ll be facing 2011 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity finalist Hit It Big and Kip Didericksen Handicap winner Fols Jesse plus five other top aged runners.

Last Chance Bobby goes for two in a row

Mike Flory’s Last Chance Bobby goes after his second win in a row when he headlines the seventh race, for Thoroughbreds, on Saturday, January 19. Ridden by Cheryl Charlton for trainer Keith Craigmyle, Last Chance Bobby broke his maiden in his 49th career start on January 5 and now has a good chance for a second win in his 50th career starts. Last Chance Bobby starts from post #4.

Saturday’s nine-race program kicks off with three Thoroughbred races:

The first race will see Fast Tracking making his first start for owner Joe Bettencourt after being claimed on December 30. Fast Tracking goes after his fourth win in a row. His last three wins have come in daylight fashion.

Hargill is one of the horses to watch in the second race of the night. Trained by Charles Treece for owner Mayra Lazaro, Hargill has posted two easy wins in his last two starts.

Mike Flory also plays a big role in the third race—he’s represented by his recently claimed mare Sipnzin, who was an easy winner in both of her last two starts.

The card features a fifth Thoroughbred event in the fifth race with the likes of Rocket Man Jack and Freedom General. All five races are contested at 4½ furlongs.

Grade 1 trials set for January 26-27

Trials for the Los Alamitos Winter Derby and Winter Championship are set for the weekend of January 26-27.. Horses eligible to compete in Saturday’s Grade 1 Winter Derby trials include Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity runner-up The August Heat, PCQHRA Breeders Futurity winner Stel My Corona, three-time Grade 1 million dollar futurity finalist Fires Blazin, and All American Futurity finalist Native Tea Rose.

Ageless superstars Rylees Boy and Jess You And I are among the slew of outstanding older horses eligible to compete in next Sunday’s trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Rylees Boy makes his first start since winning the Grade 1 Champion of Champions on December 15. He was crowned the national champion aged horse and champion aged gelding for 2012 by the AQHA earlier this week. The great millionaire Jess You And I could also compete in the Champinoship trials. He took part in his record tying fifth Champion of Champions last year.